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Primary lung cancer complicated with pneumothorax
R S Lai1, R P Perng, S C Chang
1Chest Department, Veterans General Hospital-Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Japanese Journal of Clinical Oncology
|June 1, 1992
Summary
Pneumothorax is a rare complication in lung cancer patients, occurring in 0.32% of cases. This condition is often linked to cancer progression or treatment, and it signifies a poor prognosis for patients with lung cancer.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Pulmonology
- Thoracic Surgery
Background:
- Pneumothorax is an uncommon complication in lung cancer patients.
- Incidence in lung cancer patients is approximately 0.32%.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence, characteristics, and prognostic implications of pneumothorax in lung cancer patients.
- To identify factors contributing to pneumothorax in this patient population.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 18 lung cancer patients with pneumothorax over ten years.
- Analysis of patient demographics, lung cancer type, pneumothorax side, timing, and contributing factors.
- Evaluation of treatment outcomes and survival rates post-pneumothorax onset.
Main Results:
- Pneumothorax occurred in 18 out of 5567 lung cancer patients (0.32%).
- Cancer types included adenocarcinoma (8), epidermoid carcinoma (7), and alveolar cell carcinoma (3).
- Pneumothorax occurred on the contralateral side in 5 cases, was the initial manifestation in 3, and a complication in 15.
- Common causes included tumor necrosis, bleb rupture, bronchial obstruction, and treatment complications (radiation therapy, chemotherapy).
- Pneumothorax was an ominous sign, with 12 out of 14 patients dying within six months.
Conclusions:
- Pneumothorax is a rare but serious complication in lung cancer.
- It can arise from various factors related to the tumor itself or its treatment.
- The onset of pneumothorax is associated with a significantly poor prognosis in lung cancer patients.